Know All About Phoenix Mercury: Roster, Owner, Coach and More
Phoenix Mercury is the team that gave Diana Taurasi to the WNBA league. A player who extended her limits beyond the potential of age and is still giving her best in the league. However, it is not just Taurasi who defined the rich culture of the Phoenix Mercury. The team has made various playoff appearances and even won championships.
The contributing factors to their success were the players who kept pushing for better and were there to stay for their franchise. Today we are going to explore such an organization that defied the concept of aged players in the league and nourished legends.
Phoenix Mercury Overview:
Phoenix Mercury has a large fanbase with a rich history of championships, playoff appearances, and a pool of legendary players in the league. However, we get to know about such powerhouse players, let’s explore the primary details about the Phoenix Mercury as an organization:
| Founded | 1997 |
| Owner(s) | Mat Ishbia |
| Location | Phoenix, Arizona, United States |
| Nickname | Mercury |
| Head Coach | Nate Tibbetts |
| Mascots | Scorch |
| Arena/Stadium | Footprint Center, downtown Phoenix |
| Social Media (Page) | Instagram, Facebook, X |
| Net Worth | $105 million (Approx) |
| Championship/MVP | 3(2007, 2009, 2014)/ 1 WNBA MVP(2009) |
| Popular Players | Diana Taurasi, DeWanna Bonner, Brittney Griner |
Phoenix Mercury Roster:
Phoenix Mercury roster’s highlight is the WNBA legend Diana Taurasi, who has been a part of the team for the last 20 years. To assist her in taking the Mercury team to the championship ambitions, there are veteran players like Brittney Griner and Natasha Cloud. The upcoming roster of the Mercury for the upcoming season can be given as follows according to the official page of the Phoenix Mercury:
Phoenix Mercury Head Coach
The present head coach of Phoenix Mercury is Nate Tibbetts who joined the franchise as head coach in October 2023. He has previous. experience with NBA teams Orlando Magic, Cleveland Cavaliers, and Portland Trail Blazers as associate head coach. Phoenix improved to 19-21 under first-year head coach Nate Tibbetts in 2024.
He came to the Mercury with a vision to space the floor and to play a “five out” system. In this system, all five players on the floor represent spacing and shooting threats from the perimeter.
Phoenix Mercury Assistant Coach:
The Phoenix Mercury’s assistant coaches are Megan Vogel, Michael Joiner, and Kristi Toliver. Joiner trained the Memphis Hustle at the NBA G-league before. Vogel was previously active in the coaching department of the University of Wisconsin Green Bay.
Phoenix Mercury Coaching Staff:
There is not much information about the other coaching staff members of the Phoenix Mercury right now.
Phoenix Mercury Owner:
Mat Ishbia is the sole owner of the Phoenix Mercury franchise. Mathew Randall Ishbia is an American billionaire businessman and CEO and chairman of the mortgage lender United Wholesale Mortgage. He is also the majority owner of the Phoenix Suns of the NBA along with his older brother Justin. In 2023, Ishbia announced that he was investing $100 million in a new state-of-the-art practice facility for the team, which also includes a downtown Phoenix employee campus for both the Suns and Mercury
Phoenix Mercury Famous Players
The Mercury have given legends to the game of basketball and WNBA. They played their heart out for the franchise and are still contributing to the team. Let’s take a look at these players who are generational players as individuals:
| Player Name | Retired | Age | Country |
| Diana Taurasi | No | 42 | USA |
| Brittney Griner | No | 34 | USA |
| DeWanna Bonner | No | 37 | USA |
3. DeWanna Bonner
Bonner was a key contributor to the Mercury’s WNBA championships in 2009 and 2014. In 2009, she scored 13 points in a game that helped the Mercury win the championship.
In 2014, she scored 12 points, had 9 rebounds, and 3 assists. Her ability to keep the balance with her scoring and rebounds and yet give the highest level of performance is worth praising.
2. Brittney Griner
As per Marca, Brittney Griner is joining the Atlanta Dream for the 2025 season. However, her game reached its peak while she was in the Phoenix Mercury. She won a championship for the team in 2014 and has scored the second-most points in Mercury history, only behind Taurasi.
She is also the franchise’s all-time leader in blocks and rebounds and has been selected to 10 All-Star teams while winning two Defensive Player of the Year awards
1. Diana Taurasi
Diana Taurasi is a leader who has been with the Phoenix Mercury for more than 15 years and is a living legend. Her contribution to the Mercury team is unfathomable as she brought three championships to the team.
During her stint, she earned two WNBA Finals MVPs and one WNBA MVP in 2009. Taurasi is also the WNBA’s all-time leading scorer with 10,646 points. So imagining the Mercury’s success without Diana Taurasi is impossible.
Phoenix Mercury Arena
The Phoenix Mercury play their home games at the Footprint Center in Phoenix, Arizona. This arena is also home court to the NBA’s Phoenix Suns. It has a seating capacity of 17,071 fans for basketball games. It is nicknamed “The Purple Palace” because of the team colors of the Mercury and the Sun.
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The arena has also been known as America West Arena, US Airways Center, Talking Stick Resort Arena, and Phoenix Suns Arena.
Phoenix Mercury Stats & Records
In all of these years in the league, Phoenix Mercury has made it to the postseason with the help of legend Diana Taurasi and other contributing players in the league like Brittney Griner and DeWanna Bonner. On analysis, it turns out that the Minnesota Lynx are the ones whom the team has faced the most in the postseason. Here is the record of the Mercury franchise in the league as per the Basketball Reference data:
| Year | Team | W | L | W/L% | Finish | Rivals | Coaches | Playoffs Result | Top WS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2024 | Phoenix Mercury | 19 | 21 | .475 | 4 | Minnesota Lynx | Nate Tibbetts (19-21) | Lost 1st Round | B. Griner (4.0) |
| 2022 | Phoenix Mercury | 15 | 21 | .417 | 4 | Las Vegas Aces | Vanessa Nygaard (15-21) | Lost 1st Round | S. Diggins-Smith (3.1) |
| 2021 | Phoenix Mercury | 19 | 13 | .594 | 4 | Chicago Sky | Sandy Brondello (19-13) | Lost Finals | B. Griner (6.3) |
| 2020 | Phoenix Mercury | 13 | 9 | .591 | 5 | Minnesota Lynx | Sandy Brondello (13-9) | Lost 2nd Round | D. Taurasi (3.0) |
| 2019 | Phoenix Mercury | 15 | 19 | .441 | 5 | Chicago Sky | Sandy Brondello (15-19) | Lost 1st Round | B. Griner (5.0) |
| 2018 | Phoenix Mercury | 20 | 14 | .588 | 2 | Seattle Storm | Sandy Brondello (20-14) | Lost Semis | D. Taurasi (5.6) |
| 2017 | Phoenix Mercury | 18 | 16 | .529 | 3 | Los Angeles Sparks | Sandy Brondello (18-16) | Lost Semis | B. Griner (5.4) |
| 2016 | Phoenix Mercury | 16 | 18 | .471 | 3 | Minnesota Lynx | Sandy Brondello (16-18) | Lost Semis | B. Griner (4.3) |
| 2015 | Phoenix Mercury | 20 | 14 | .588 | 2 | Minnesota Lynx | Sandy Brondello (20-14) | Lost W. Conf. Finals | D. Bonner (5.0) |
| 2014 | Phoenix Mercury | 29 | 5 | .853 | 1 | Chicago Sky | Sandy Brondello (29-5) | Won Finals | B. Griner (6.8) |
| 2013 | Phoenix Mercury | 19 | 15 | .559 | 3 | Minnesota Lynx | Corey Gaines (10-11), Russ Pennell (9-4) | Lost W. Conf. Finals | D. Taurasi (5.6) |
| 2011 | Phoenix Mercury | 19 | 15 | .559 | 3 | Minnesota Lynx | Corey Gaines (19-15) | Lost W. Conf. Finals | P. Taylor (5.4) |
| 2010 | Phoenix Mercury | 15 | 19 | .441 | 2 | Seattle Storm | Corey Gaines (15-19) | Lost W. Conf. Finals | C. Dupree (4.8) |
| 2009 | Phoenix Mercury | 23 | 11 | .676 | 1 | Indiana Fever | Corey Gaines (23-11) | Won Finals | D. Taurasi (5.4) |
| 2007 | Phoenix Mercury | 23 | 11 | .676 | 1 | Detroit Shock | Paul Westhead (23-11) | Won Finals | P. Taylor (6.4) |
| 2000 | Phoenix Mercury | 20 | 12 | .625 | 4 | Los Angeles Sparks | Cheryl Miller (20-12) | Lost W. Conf. Semis | B. Reed (7.3) |
| 1998 | Phoenix Mercury | 19 | 11 | .633 | 2 | Houston Comets | Cheryl Miller (19-11) | Lost Finals | J. Gillom (6.0) |
| 1997 | Phoenix Mercury | 16 | 12 | .571 | 1 | New York Liberty | Cheryl Miller (16-12) | Lost Semis | J. Gillom (4.5) |
Phoenix Mercury Jersey & Logo
The Phoenix Mercury jerseys have three kinds of jerseys in different styles. The three of them are Rebel Edition, Heroine, and Explorer Edition jerseys. The most recent addition to this collection is the Rebel Edition jersey that was launched on April 18, 2024. Here is the breakdown of all three jersey conditions and how they are different from each other:
| Jersey Edition | Specifications | Color | Design |
| Rebel | The first in the league to match the jersey | Black with a gradient pattern | “PHX” across the chest with an orange “X” |
| Heroine | Tribute to the ’90s generation of Phoenix Suns basketball and the women’s movement | White | An update of the original Mercury white jersey |
| Explorer | Tribute to the team’s founding as one of the original WNBA teams in 1997 | Purple and orange gradient | A combination of the team’s core colors |
The logo of the Phoenix Mercury has gone through many changes in its design. These changes took place subsequently over the years since the inauguration of the team in 1997. When the team was first established, they used an orange sunburst as their primary logo, which featured two basketballs crisscrossing each other at the center and had “Phoenix” written across it in bold lettering. This symbolized both strength and unity for this new franchise as well as paying homage to Arizona’s desert climate.
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However, things changed when Nike took over designing duties for all WNBA teams in 2003. Their updated version still retained elements from before but added more curvature around the edges while making sure everything remained balanced within itself. Additionally, colors were shifted slightly so that purple became dominant instead – emphasizing power rather than energy/activity like before.
Finally, after another decade went by without any major modifications being made, we now have what can arguably be seen as The Phoenix Mercury’s definitive branding: A blazing sun surrounded by flames atop a vibrant purple background with white accents throughout, providing contrast against darker tones below them. Such a simple format makes sure that the team does not forget its roots and maintains the modern perspective.
Phoenix Mercury Retired Jersey
The Phoenix Mercury have retired the jersey numbers of two of their players. These players are Michelle Timms and Penny Taylor. Here is the information about their retired jersey numbers and the date on which their jerseys got retired by Phoenix Mercury:
| No. | Player | Position | Tenure | Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 7 | Michele Timms | Guard | 1997–2001 | August 7, 2002 |
| 13 | Penny Taylor | Guard/Forward | 2004–2016 | July 9, 2017 |
The ceremony of jersey retirement for Penny Taylor took place after a game at Talking Stick Resort Arena. She holds the 3x WNBA title and 3x Australian Olympics appearance as her achievements in the world of basketball. Meanwhile, the jersey of Michelle Timms was the first jersey to be retired by the Phoenix Mercury and the second jersey to be retired in the WNBA league.
Phoenix Mercury Mascot
The mascot of the Phoenix Mercury team is Scorch, who is an alien from the planet Mercury. As per the Mercury archives, Scorch is an extraterrestrial visitor from the fiery planet Mercury. In 2002, an unusual energy spike appeared on Scorch’s radar and he was sent on a mission to investigate. Scorch hopped in his spaceship and followed his compass to The Valley in Phoenix, Arizona on Earth.
When he arrived, he quickly discovered the source of the soundwaves; it was the Mighty Mercury chant from the X-Factor fanbase of the Phoenix Mercury. Scorch was overwhelmed by the X- X-factor’s excitement, joy, and love, creating an instant and unbreakable bond with the team and the city.
Phoenix Mercury Rivalries
In recent times, the Minnesota Lynx have emerged as the prime rivals for the Phoenix Mercury roster. Whenever the Phoenix Mercury has moved to the postseason, the Lynx has stopped them for the highest 6 times in reaching the WNBA title. Even last season, the team lost the first round of the WNBA playoff while playing against the Minnesota Lynx in the postseason.
The second team that has got the attention of the fans as a potential threat to Diana Taurasi and her Mercury team is Indiana Fever. It is a freshly brewed rivalry that flourished last year when Caitlin Clark made her debut in the WNBA. It started when Taurasi said to ESPN about rookies like Clark before their debut, “Reality is coming. There’s levels to this thing.” However, Clark turned out to be a beast on the court and broke several records as a rookie in the league.
Phoenix Mercury Instagram
The most number of fans that follow Phoenix Mercury are on the social media platform, Instagram. The Instagram handle of Phoenix Mercury @phoenixmercury has a massive 211K following. The management of the Mercury knows that marketing matters. That’s why, most of the page of the franchise is filled with jersey advertising and behind-the-scenes interaction with the players.
Phoenix Mercury Other Social Media:
The Mercury also has an X account that shares the same level of content with Instagram. However, it is more of a news feed that gives day-to-day updates to the fans when the regular season is in full flow. The X handle of the organization goes by the name @PhoenixMercury and has 114.3K followers. Phoenix Mercury also has a Facebook page with a 218K fan base and a Phoenix Mercury profile name.
The team also has a presence on LinkedIn to deal with official matters and requests from other organizations. Its YouTube channel acts as video entertainment including highlights, press conferences, and backstage interviews for the fans. That’s why the Mercury’s YouTube channel has 5.41K subscribers.
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Who is the owner of Phoenix Mercury?
Currently, Mat Ishbia is the owner of Phoenix Mercury, who took charge of the team from Robert Sarver in February 2023.
How much do the Phoenix Mercury players make?
The contracts for the Phoenix Mercury players range from $64,154 to $490,118, as per Spotrac data.
Where is Phoenix Mercury based?
The Phoenix Mercury is based in Phoenix, Arizona.
What is the Phoenix Mercury record?
Last season in 2024, the Phoenix Mercury record was 19-21 with a 47.5% winning percentage as per WNBA data.
Who is the Phoenix Mercury Coach?
Nate Tibbetts is the current head coach of the Phoenix Mercury.
How many championships have Phoenix Mercury won?
Phoenix Mercury have won three WNBA championships in 2007, 2009, and 2014.
Who is Phoenix Mercury’s rival?
The Phoenix Mercury has rivalries with several teams, including the Indiana Fever, Los Angeles Sparks, and Washington Mystics.
Who is the most famous WNBA player from Phoenix Mercury?
The Phoenix Mercury guard Diana Taurasi is the most famous player from the WNBA franchise and has been a legend for women’s basketball players.